Incapable of cleaning up its own mess

Background: Detroit Public Schools is on the verge of violating rules which would allow the state to take over the school district. Again. The state failed the last time they took the system over so that is not a solution. But Detroit is incapable of cleaning up after itself. Let parents decide what's best for their children.

Since the state has proven itself incapable of fixing Detroit public schools, it should not take over the failed system. However, it cannot simply walk away leaving the district to clean up its own mess. The district has proven itself incapable of implementing even basic reforms such as acceptable accounting practices and closing unneeded facilities. Legislators in Lansing must empower parents whose children are trapped in failed schools. One step is to drop House Bill 5765 which would prohibit community colleges from opening additional charter schools in the city when enrollment drops below 100,000. Parents need alternatives to a school system that has failed children for decades.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 05/28/2008.]